Leap of Faith

Monday, 3/28/2016: someone had the bright idea to book an excursion that required all of us to be up and social by 7 AM.  Everyone was up, but not everyone was social.   A short bus ride from the resort lead us to our repelling and canyoning experience.  The guides at PureTrek were great and made Gracie feel right at home.  

We slipped on our harness, brief safety talk.  The talk went something like left hand here, right hand here and lean back.  Let's go even 5 year olds and 86 year olds have done this.

The first repel was like 160+ feet.  Katie walked up got hooked up and was gone.  Ashley followed quickly behind without any drama.  I went 3rd it was a crazy repel and I got pounded by the waterfall. By all reports Gracie cried the entire way down the first repel.  According to Grace the guide showed her where to put her hands turned her around and gave her a push of the platform.  This may or may not have some truth to it. She just kept going.  She was very glad to see her mom at the bottom.

We had 4 more repels all were a blast.  Everyone had a great time and no body really cried after the first repel.  We hiked out had chicken, rice, black bean lunch and returned to the Springs Resort by 12:00 PM.

Smiles before tears

Are you sure we should be doing this?

Ashley on the descent 

Grace says "just lower me down"

The moment before I was baptized in this Costa Rican waterfall

Kari repelling down.

Everybody survived the canyon

If you ask why there is no love for Katie it is because she always went first and was always long gone. When we get the link from the guides, I will add a few more photos to this post.

After lunch we tried the resort's little Club Rio.  Grace and Kari went on a nature walk through the animal sanctuary.  They rescue animal who were abused or kept as pets.  Ashley, Katie and I tried inflatable kayaking some class 1 Rapids with mixed success.  Both switched to tubing the second time down.

Preparing to launch

Ashley took a line near the wall.  Was she pleased with that decision?????

Costa Ricana report old orthopedic surgeon has mad paddle skills

Katie coming out of the Rapids above.

After that Kari and Grace went tubing on the river.  Katie, Ash and I toured the animal sanctuary.  Our trip through was pretty epic.

Gracie on the tub

Someone's confidence is high 

Kari and Grace after tubing.  That waterfall has a temp of about 98 degrees 

Meanwhile in the animal sanctuary, these things happened.

Check out this Toucan 

Which is brighter?

Smiling again, this might become a thing

We all know who the bird liked the best 

Petting a 3-toes sloth, who does that?

This dude is very mellow.

Next we checked out spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys, white faced monkeys.  The capuchin tried to get Katie's bracelets.  The spider monkey pictured  is named Mike Tyson because he likes to fight and take the guest's property.

Mike Tyson

If I can't have Katie's bracelets then I will just sit here and eat.

Leaf carrying ant.  Cause I think they are cool.

We finished our tour by viewing Central America Jungle Cats.  Still no leopard.

Ashley and Katie finished the day on the rock climbing wall.  I had a few other things to finish

Ashley working on route #3

SpiderKatie

I finished a few more of these

The girls then hit the one water slide and pools until 7:30. We had a little dinner and bed.  Tomorrow we say goodbye to the rain forest and hello to the beach!